Romans - Part 06 - Life in the Spirit

S - Scripture

Romans 8:1-14

1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, 2 because the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do since it was weakened by the flesh, God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh as a sin offering, 4 in order that the law’s requirement would be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their minds set on the things of the Spirit. 6 Now the mindset of the flesh is death, but the mindset of the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mindset of the flesh is hostile to God because it does not submit to God’s law. Indeed, it is unable to do so. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 You, however, are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to him. 10 Now if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then he who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through his Spirit who lives in you. 12 So then, brothers and sisters, we are not obligated to the flesh to live according to the flesh, 13 because if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons.

Romans 8:26-27

26 In the same way the Spirit also helps us in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because he intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

O - Observation

• I need to pause and determine what the therefore is there for. This is a good habit for such transitory words and typically connects the preceding passage with the following passage (think of a cause and effect relationship). Do this in the Application section
• From the law of sin and death to the law of the Spirit of life in Christ
• What is the mindset of the flesh? What about of the Spirit?
  • If you've ever heard of Head, Hearts, Hands this is basically what the Scripture is pointing at. What you believe and accept as true (Head) changes who you are (Heart) and affects what you do (Hands).
• Am I currently living in the flesh or the Spirit? Read Galatians 16-26 to better answer this for yourself.
• Living by the Holy Spirit is evidence of being one of God's children.
• The Holy Spirit intercedes for me but what does that mean?

A - Application

• What is going on before this passage? Paul talks about sin's use of the law and the problem of sin in us.
• Am I being led by my sin or by the Holy Spirit? If we try to defeat our sin on our own we are fighting an up hill battle (not something you can win). Only the Holy Spirit can empower us to defeat our sin as He works in us.
• Have you noticed any changes in your thoughts and behaviors after becoming a Christian? The Gospel is transformative; if have heard it, believed it, and received it you won't be the same afterwards, you will start to become more Christlike (although this is a life long journey and may not feel very expedient). As mentioned before, read Galatians 5:16-26 and make a list with one side titled Flesh and the other Spirit, then put a tally under each one as you read this passage for any of the fruits that describe you. It is okay if you have more fruit of the Flesh and not many fruit of the Spirit, but redo this exercise yearly and see how you grow spiritually.
• We are adopted into His family when we put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ and His redemptive work on the cross believing and understanding that only He as the perfect sacrificial Lamb could pay for our sins and make us right before God. In legal times, if you were adopted you were bound my law to be the child of your new parents, they could not legally remove you from their family. In the same way, when you are adopted into God's family you are His forever (no matter how bad you think you are, remember Paul's life before Jesus).
• The last part of this passage reminds us that even when we don't have the words or know how to express ourselves to God, the Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf. Intercession is the act of intervening, mediating, or pleading on behalf of another and since the Holy Spirit knows us fully and knows God's will, He can perfectly express us to God in our prayers. The important part is bringing ourselves to God in prayer, just say what you can or be still intentionally in God's presence, the Holy Spirit has you and God wants to hear from His children.

P - Prayer

Lord,

Thank You that because of Jesus there is no condemnation for those who belong to You. Thank You for giving me Your Holy Spirit to live within me, guide me, strengthen me, and transform me. Help me grow out of the fruit of flesh and more of the fruit of the Spirit. Thank You for adapting me into Your family and allowing us to approach You as we are. Even when I don't have the words I know the Holy Spirit expresses my heart to You.

I pray this in Jesus' name, Amen.